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Prospect Morgan getting valuable experience

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By Todd Zolecki
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MLB.com |

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- In the future, if everything continues on its current path, Adam Morgan won't have to pack his bags for the short trip to Carpenter Complex, the Phillies' Minor League Spring Training home.

But, for now, that's his reality. The Phillies re-assigned the left-handed pitching prospect to Minor League camp on Saturday. Morgan, who MLB.com ranks the seventh-best prospect in the Phillies organization, went 0-1 with a 1.93 ERA in two Grapefruit League appearances. He allowed five hits, four runs (one earned run), two walks and struck out six in 4 2/3 innings.

The Phillies need him to get ready for the Minor League season, but they love his potential and think he could be a mainstay in the rotation in the future. He could open this season at Double-A Reading or Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

"It was amazing," Morgan said about his first big league camp experience. "It was awesome. I felt like I took advantage of every day. I tried to learn something new every day. I didn't take anything for granted. You come in here and I guess you're kind of star struck by everybody at first. But they're good guys. They're very approachable guys.

"I picked Cole Hamels' brain a little bit in the dugout, just trying to figure out what he does in between starts and what works for him. There's no better pitching staff than this one here just to pick their brains. I just tried to figure out what he did in between starts, like video, what he looks for in hitters, what pitches to throw in certain situations, some of his grips. He opened up to me. That was great. That's something I will always remember."

In fact, Hamels and Morgan compared changeup grips. Morgan's changeup took a step forward last season, so he wanted to look at Hamels' because he has one of the best in baseball.

The Phillies selected Morgan, 23, in the third round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft. He went a combined 8-11 with a 3.35 ERA in 27 appearances (26 starts) last season with Class A Clearwater and Reading.

Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.